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Tag: SOKOTO

  • Sokoto, UNICEF agree on N2.8b 2017 work plan

    The Sokoto State government and United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have signed a joint annual work plan worth N2.8 billion.

    The work plan will cover sectors, such as health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, and is meant to accelerate the realisation of the right of all children and women to survival, development, protection and participation.

    Governor Aminu Tambuwal said the government had fulfilled its part of the agreement by paying its N1.7 billion counterpart funding.

    According to him, UNICEF’s intervention in critical areas has helped to improve the people’s lives. He said the government was committed to the execution of the annual work plan, and promised its full implementation.

    UNICEF’s Country Representative Muhammad Fall said the partnership was the most outstanding at the state level in Nigeria.

    He lauded Tambuwal for providing the highest allocation to education in the 2016 and 2017 budgets, noting that the 28 per cent was beyond UNESCO’s required standard.

  • Sultan worried over lack of accountability in government, tasks lawyers, judiciary

    Sultan worried over lack of accountability in government, tasks lawyers, judiciary

    Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad ‎Abubakar III has expressed concern on the complete lack of accountability that exists in government with moral fabric of society falling apart.

    Abubakar who made the observation in Sokoto Monday at the opening of the 2017 Nigerian Law Week‎ organised by the state Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said while Court’s play vital role in building democracy, lawyers ought to adequately safeguard it.

    He noted that corruption has reached epic proportions with stolen loots calculated in billions of naira and ‎dollars.

    According to the religious monarch who was represented by the Magain Rafin Sokoto, Alhaji Rilwanu Bello, “it is the role of lawyers to enlighten the general public as the custodians of the laws binding the society and the judiciary is seen as the last hope of the common man‎ which should strengthen the confidence of the people in the judiciary and government.

    “The rule of law is not sacrosanct and there is a major lack of enforcement of legal rules, regulations and procedures”, he noted.

    However, Abubakar urged lawyers to use the week to come up with solutions to the problems of congestion of cases in courts, reduce costs of litigation and outline majors to scrap corruption in its entire ramifications

     

  • Ghost workers: Sokoto recovers N278m from LG payrolls – Tambuwal

    Ghost workers: Sokoto recovers N278m from LG payrolls – Tambuwal

    Sokoto State Government says it has recovered over N278 million paid to ghost workers on the payrolls of local governments in the past four months.

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal disclosed this on Sunday during a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Gwadabawa Local Government Area.

    Tambuwal said the money was paid to the ghost workers’ bank accounts but was not claimed from the various banks.

    “This was sequel to the centralisation of the payment of the salaries of workers of the local governments.

    “About two weeks ago, some banks alerted the Commissioner of Local Governments about the existence of the unclaimed money,” the governor said.

    He said the recent verification of council staff was aimed at ascertaining genuine workers.

    “The exercise was not aimed at witch hunting anyone but to ascertain the actual workforce and monthly wage bill of the local governments,” Tambuwal said.

    He said many farmers in the state were defaulting in repayment of agricultural loans obtained from commercial banks and assured the banks of the government’s support in recovering the money.

    “The money belongs to the Central Bank of Nigeria and we will support any action to recover it.

    “This is to enable other farmers to benefit from the gesture as the money is not a bonanza.’’

    Tambuwal called on the people to continue to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari as well as for sustained peace and unity of Nigeria.

    Also speaking, Sen. Ibrahim Gobir (APC-Sokoto) and Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji, called on party members to obtain their permanent voter cards.

  • Tambuwal urges APC controlled states to support FG policies, programmes

    Tambuwal urges APC controlled states to support FG policies, programmes

    Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto yesterday tasked states under the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to key in and deepen achievements recorded by the Federal Government in order to ensure rapid socio-economic development of the nation.

    Speaking in Sokoto at the opening of the Second Quarterly meeting of the Secretaries of State Governments (SSGs) under APC control, Tambuwal said almost two years after coming to power, the FG has recorded significant achievements especially in the areas of security, job creation, agriculture, education, youth empowerment among others.

    He said now that the nation is at a cross-road, it becomes imperative for all APC member-states to ensure a worthy turning-point is propelled.

    “Indeed, the journey so far has been very challenging, demands are increasing by day and the resources available keep shrinking. We have the individual and collective responsibility of moving our dear States forward, no matter what it takes,” the Governor stated.

    According to him, the Second Quarterly meeting will review the progress so far made on key policy issues with a view to identifying problems and challenges bedevilling their States for a lasting solution.

    “It is also aimed at developing basic framework for peer review mechanism, monitoring and evaluation as well as sharing key governance initiatives and actions in some selected APC States in the federation,” he added.

    In his remarks, Plateau State Governor and Co-Chairman of APC Governance and Policy Committee, Simon Lalong, represented by his SSG, Rufus Bature, said the meeting would share ideas on critical national issues and leadership strategies that will enrich national discuss and move the nation forward.

    He expressed hope that the meeting will mark a glorious turning point that would make Nigeria’s democratic institutions more vibrant for the overall development processes.

    The meeting has in attendance SSGs from all APC controlled states and their Permanent Secretaries.

     

  • New Sokoto varsity VC promises to take institution to greater height

    New Sokoto varsity VC promises to take institution to greater height

    A week after his appointment, Vice Chancellor of the Sokoto State University, Sokoto, Professor Sani Dangoggo assumed office with the promise to take the institution to greater heights.

    Dangoggo who made the pledge said,”this is to justify the confidence reposed in us by the state government.”

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Information Officer of the University, Malam Zayyanu Shehu and issued to newsmen in Sokoto.‎

    Dangoggo added:” I will accomplish my God-given purpose as the second Vice-Chancellor of the University.

    ”This is by taking the University to greater heights, but this cannot be achieved without the sustained support of staff.”

    He further commended the State Government for,” considering them worthy to serve the University.”

    Dangoggo also promised to make the institution an enviable one.

    Also, Registrar of the University, Mrs Amina  Garba, pledged the unalloyed support of the staff,” in making the University a force to be reckoned with in the academia.”

    Others who also had since assumed office the statement said include Professors Zayyanu Umar and Nasiru Ibrahim, as Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Academic and Administration, respectively.

     

  • Sokoto to ensure sustainable development

    Sokoto to ensure sustainable development

    The Sokoto State Government says it is committed to ensure a sustainable development of the urban and rural areas of the state.

    Aminu Tambuwal said this at a two-day stakeholders sensitisation workshop in the mining sector for the North West geo-political zone on Wednesday in Sokoto.

    Tambuwal, represented by Prof. Bashir Garba, Secretary to the State Government, said ” before the development of oil, we have been getting all resources from coal which is also a solid mineral”.

    “We tend to have abandoned the huge deposit of coal since the discovery of oil in the country; there are countries which still rely on solid minerals for their survival e.g Copper in Tunisia.

    “Solid minerals have been in utilisation than petrol; in other words, all states in the country should try and discover their own solid mineral.”

    The governor assured that the solid mineral developmental fund would support the stakeholders it it was well utilised.

    Hajia Hadiza Goni, Acting Secretary, Solid Minerals Development Fund, said that the development of the mining sector had been one of the key change priorities of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for economic diversification and growth.

    Goni explained that before the discovery of oil in commercial quantity in Nigeria, mining sector was the mainstay of the economy and one of the major sources of revenue generation.

    She said “unfortunately, in approximately 45 years decline of the country’s mining sector, we have been unable to articulate a framework upon which the sector would viably stand and operate.

    “As such, we have missed out on various opportunities to capitalise on the up-surging of commodity process.”

    Goni said that the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development had identified 45 different solid mineral types across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

  • Lalong, Tambuwal laud Catholic Church for its contributions to national development

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau and Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State have commended the Catholic Church for its contributions to the religious, educational, medical and infrastructure development of Nigeria.

    The governors made the commendations on Thursday at the 50th anniversary celebration of St. Augustine Major Seminary, Jos.

    Lalong said that the impact of the church on the lives of Nigerians could not be quantified.

    He said that Plateau was blessed with numerous Christian institutions that had accounted for the training, character and spiritual formation of many citizens of the state.

    “The 50 years of existence of St. Augustine’s Major Seminary is no doubt worthy of celebration.

    “For a school that has produced 20 bishops and scores of priests, religious and laity that are in the service of the Lord at home and abroad, it is indeed worthy of our attention and support.

    “This seminary remains a real asset to the universal Church because as a spiritual hob for the training of ministers of the gospel, it is a vehicle through which ministers are thoroughly prepared to holistically address the spiritual and physical well- being of Nigerians in the Catholic Church and beyond,” he said.

    Gov Tambuwal also highlighted the contributions of the Church and promised to work with other state governors and friends to support the seminary, particularly in the rehabilitation of its infrastructure.

    He said that the seminary had contributed significantly to character moulding and morality.

    “We appreciate the contribution of this great institution and we pray God Almighty to strengthen the leadership and membership so that they will continue deliver on the good deeds.

    “I commend the Catholic Church for its contributions to the development of this country as the history of the development of Nigeria will not be complete without a chapter dedicated to the Church.

    “I am aware not only of the age of the institution but the ageing infrastructure, and we (governors) have agreed to contact our friends to assist the seminary handsomely,” he said.

    The Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Mathew Kukah, in an address, said that the Church had many priests working outside Nigeria and promoting the image of the country.

    Kukah said that there were more than 1,500 priests and nuns  working and promoting the image of Nigeria abroad, including in places that Nigeria had yet to establish diplomatic missions.

    The bishop said that the Church had been involved in human capital development even before the emergence of the country  and urged the Federal Government to take the Catholic Church serious for its contributions to national development.

  • Meningitis kills another Corps member in Sokoto

    ANOTHER Sokoto State National Youth Corps Service (NYSC) member has died, barely a month after the death of two members.

    Funmilayo Samuel, an indigene of Kabba in Kogi State, was suspected to have died of meningitis at Murtala Specialist Hospital in Sokoto, where people infected with the disease are being treated.

    A source told CAMPUSLIFE that the body of the late Corps member was immediately moved to another specialist hospital in the state capital after she died.

    Funmilayo, a Batch “A” Stream II Corps member, was serving at the Government Day Secondary School in Hamma’alli, a community in Kware Local Government Area – the same local council where the late Daniel Saanu, a Corps member died early this month.

    The late Funmilayo was expected to pass out next month, having done her final clearance. Her death brings to three corps members, who died in the state within the last two months.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the late Funmilayo taught Social Studies in her place of primary assignment. Her body was said to have been taken to her hometown last Thursday for burial.

    Worried by the death of their colleagues, some Corps members have sent distress message to the NYSC secretariat. It was gathered that the state NYSC coordinator, Alhaji Musa Abubakar, will be meeting Corps members this week on the matter.

    The aim, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, is to discuss how Corps members would have access to seek a robust emergency medical care, especially those serving in rural communities where killer disease is recorded.

  • Meningitis: UNICEF donates cash, vaccines to Sokoto

    FOLLOWING the recent outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis(CSM) ‎in Sokoto state, the United Nations International Children’s Education Fund(UNICEF) is  delivering ‎850,000 doses of meningitis vaccines in addition  to a cash support of N17 million for logistics  and social mobilization activities to the state government.
    Accordingly, the Fund reaffirmed  it’s commitment to deliver results for children and makes sure children access to vaccination a priority above other needs.
    Mr Mohammed Mohiuddin, the Fund Chief in-charge of Sokoto Zonal Office,  made the disclosure Wednesday in Sokoto during a one-day stakeholders meeting as part of UNICEF’s support in response to CSM outbreak in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
    The sensitization meeting coordinated by UNICEF Sokoto Field Office in Colaboration with Ministries of Health, Information, Basic and Secondary Education and partner agencies is organised for print and electronic media, Muslim and Christian religious leaders, traditional leaders and education stakeholders in Sokoto.
    Mohiuddin further said UNICEF will also use its field network through LGA consultants, voluntary community mobilizers and community volunteers in nine affected areas.
    The areas include: Bodinga, Rabah, Dange Shuni, Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Tureta, Goronyo, Isa and Gwadabawa.. ‎He also disclosed that community members were being sensitized and informed about the disease (CSM) campaign and particularly, date, place and time of vaccination.”
    The Zonal Chief‎ also said that community members in the 14 remaining local governments were being informed about prevention of the disease and how to seek help from health staff when the symptoms of meningitis were noticed.

  • ‘Sokoto command of the NCS nets over N2.3 billion between 2016 to 2017’

    Mr Sani Madugu, Area Contoller of the Sokoto command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) on Monday officially handed over to his successor, Mr Nasiru Ahmed with a disclosure of the net sum of N2.09 billion as revenue generated during its operations for the year 2016.

    Accordingly, over N314 million was realised as revenue between the months of January ‎and March, 2017.

    The ‎amounts recorded were accruals from seizures, forfeitures and other operational aspects carried out within the periods.

    The command comprises of the three states of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara.

    Making the disclosure at a brief ceremony, Madugu‎ said the command had surpassed its target of N1.7bn, describing the break-through as a success to the entire command and service.

    According to him “we have improved on our revenue generation drive strategy”, he added.

    Madugu who has been deployed to Ogun state further explained that under his headship, the command has experienced‎ some positive changes that translated to physical transformation of structures with befitting adjourning services with the little resources allocated by the headquarters.

    “We have put in place a befitting conference hall with basic facilities, secured titltes (C of O) for our landed properties including officers Mess and residential buildings (barracks).

    According to Madugu, “I am handing over a good and sound NCS Area command to my successor”, he said.

    Taking over, the new Area Controller, Mr Nasiru Ahmed who hails from Niger state said he would do everything within his mandate in tackling the issue of smuggling and bring it to the barest minimum.

    He also assured of exploring more ways and areas of generating and improving the command’s revenue base.

    “We will work harder to brace the revenue of the command to bar‎”, he maintained.